SYDOR’S TWO KEY HITS DRIVES SOFTBALL TO DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF FELICIAN; 5-4, 2-1

Box Score vs. Felician (Game One) - April 2, 2009

Box Score vs. Felician (Game Two) - April 2, 2009 

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Apr. 2, 2009) - Sophomore shortstop/second baseman Alexandra Sydor (Glen Cove, N.Y.) had two big hits that brought in three runs to pace the Molloy College softball team to a twin killing of Felician College on Thursday by scores of 5-4 and 2-1, respectively, at Lions' Field in Rockville Centre, N.Y. During Game One, she drove in two key insurance runs late, and pushed the game-winning RBI across the plate in the nightcap.

Game One - Molloy 5, Felician 4

All square at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning, the Lions (12-12) took a 2-1 lead on three consecutive hits. Junior catcher Tiffany D'Alessandro (Wantagh, N.Y.) started the two-out rally with a single to left field. Freshman first baseman Carla Campagna (Floral Park, N.Y.) matched her single with one of her own. With two runners on, senior shortstop/third baseman Nicole Losito (Howard Beach, N.Y.) drove in the go-ahead run with a base knock to right field.

The Golden Falcons (4-19) responded by evening the score at 2-2 with a run in their half of the fifth. They took the lead in the sixth when sophomore first baseman Samantha Ortiz (Brooklyn, N.Y.) connected on an opposite field home run, which also scored freshman catcher Johanna Gonzalez (West New York, N.J.) to give Felician a 4-2 lead. 

The Lions came from behind in their half of the sixth by pushing three runs across on four hits. Freshman infielder/outfielder Meghan Karpinski (Bethpage, N.Y.) led off the frame with a double into right center. She later came in on a single off the bat of sophomore pinch hitter Brittney Tartaro (Bayport, N.Y.).  Following a double from senior second baseman/outfielder Michelle Walsh (Bellerose, N.Y.), Sydor brought home the tying and go ahead runs with a two-RBI single through the left side. 

In the circle, sophomore pitcher/first baseman Lauren Urbont (Long Beach, N.Y.) scattered ten hits and was touched up for four runs in the complete game victory for Molloy. She fanned two batters and yielded one walk while going the distance for her fifth win of the season. For Felician, junior pitcher Kelly Hughes (Toms River, N.J.) tossed a complete game in defeat. She surrendered 10 hits and five earned runs while walking three. 

Game Two - Molloy 2, Felician 1

In the second game, all the scoring was wrapped up early as all three runs were scored in the first two innings. In the Lions' first at-bat, Losito singled home D'Alessandro who earlier reached on a fielder's choice. The Golden Falcons shut the door after that, as Molloy left the bases loaded when Felician senior pitcher Nicole Broecker (Staten Island, N.Y.) got Karpinski to ground to third. 

In the next half inning for the Golden Falcons, Broecker helped her own cause with a one-out double to left. Junior catcher Rebecca Dodd (Oakland, N.J.) advanced the other half of the battery to third with a base hit to center. Broecker came across to even the score at 1-1 when her teammate, freshman outfielder Grace Keller (Hoboken, N.J.) ripped an RBI single to center with two outs. 

Molloy took the lead for the second time in the contest in their half of that frame as junior outfielder Erin Rut (East Meadow, N.Y.) led off with a single. Following two consecutive groundouts, Sydor drove in the game- winning run with a single to left, her third RBI on the afternoon.  She later ended the game in spectacular fashion turning a game-ending double play in the seventh inning with the tying runner on base. 

On the mound, freshman pitcher/outfielder Allison Ryan (Seaford, N.Y.) allowed only one earned run en route to her seventh win of the season. She surrendered six hits in the win, and fanned four batters.  Broecker was the hard luck loser for Felician. In her four innings of work, she allowed two earned runs on five hits.

Head Coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and the Lions are next in action this Saturday as they face Caldwell College as part of the Georgian Court Invitational in Lakewood, N.J. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Then, at 3 p.m., Molloy will battle Dominican College in its second game of the invite.